1928
Medicine
The mould that changed medicine
Alexander Fleming noticed that a mould in his lab was killing bacteria. That chance discovery became penicillin, the antibiotic that has since saved millions of lives.
On This Day in History
Featured Stories
Turning points worth remembering
1948
Human Rights
A promise to every person
The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, setting out, for the first time, rights that belong to every human being everywhere.
1969
Exploration
Footsteps on the Moon
Apollo 11 landed on the Moon and Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on its surface, watched live by hundreds of millions on Earth.
1971
Nation Building
Seven emirates, one nation
The United Arab Emirates was founded on 2 December 1971, beginning one of the fastest transformations of any country in modern history.
1980
Global Health
Smallpox defeated
The World Health Organization declared smallpox eradicated — the first human disease ever wiped out through worldwide cooperation and vaccination.
1989
Freedom
The Wall comes down
Crowds crossed and tore at the Berlin Wall, ending decades of division in Germany and signalling the end of the Cold War in Europe.
A Short Timeline of Progress
How we got here
1947
India gains independence on 15 August after a long, largely non-violent freedom struggle.
1955
Jonas Salk's polio vaccine is announced safe and effective, starting the global fight against polio.
1969
Humans land on the Moon for the first time.
1980
Smallpox is officially declared eradicated.
1991
The World Wide Web is opened to the public, changing how humanity shares knowledge.
1994
Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa's first democratically elected president.
Our Mission
Make the world a better place — by remembering it well.
History isn't just what happened. It's the proof of what people are capable of.
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We record the events that shaped our world, clearly and accurately, with sources credited.
Explain
Short videos and stories that make history easy to understand for everyone.
Inspire
We highlight progress, courage and cooperation — the stories that show a better world is possible.